Names+in+The+Giver

**//Names in The Giver - taken from "Witnesses to History project"//**
===Jonas is the Latin form of Jonah, from Hebrew meaning Dove. The Old Testament tells the story of Jonah, to whom God gives the task of telling the people of Nineveh that because of their greed and selfishness, their city will be destroyed in forty days. Through a series of events, Jonah is swallowed by a whale, rescued, and goes on to deliver his message. The people ask for forgiveness and are saved from destruction. Jonas is the main character is The Giver and he also has the responsibility of bringing important news and perhaps rescuing his people.===

Lily is the name of a flower and has long symbolized purity and innocence. In the book, Lily is Jonas' little sister who has childish innocence which contrasts Jonas' growing disillusionment.
===Rosemary, the name of a fragrant herb, has long been associated with love, memory, fidelity and death. In The Giver, Rosemary is the previous receiver of memory who symbolizes remembrance but goes "mad" and asks to be released.===

===Gabriel, from the Hebrew, is one of two archangels identified in the Old Testament. He is considered a prophet messenger. The fact that Gabriel, the newchild in The Giver has been saved by father and then by Jonas seems to say that he is special. Although we do not know what happens to him in the end, it does say that the people were waiting for "the baby", which could mean he is a prophet messenger.===